Recent News

Cove Park, haa design & Arts & Business Scotland

21 March 2016

Cove Park, the UK’s only dedicated residency centre for artists of all disciplines, is excited to announce it has successfully secured sponsorship and funding for the internal fit-out and some furnishing within its brand new £1.4m Artist Centre, by Cameron Webster Architects, currently under construction. Arts & Business Scotland have awarded a New Arts Sponsorship Grant for key pieces of furniture, match-funding the in-kind sponsorship Cove Park is receiving from award-wining Glasgow-based interior architects haa design.

haa design is working closely with Cove Park and Cameron Webster Architects to plan the fit out of its new main kitchen and advise on furnishing the new communal spaces, accommodation and studios. The new building will open in summer 2016 and will comprise multi-purpose rooms allowing up to 60 people to take part in activity related to Cove Park’s residency programmes. A large communal kitchen and dining area, meeting room, office spaces, an archive and library as well as 2 new studios and 2 new accommodation units (one of which will be fully accessible), will take Cove Park’s residential capacity to 12. The new Artist Centre overlooks Loch Long and the Firth of the Clyde, on Cove Park’s outstanding 50-acre site on the Rosneath Peninsula.

“To have a hand in this building is a fantastic opportunity,” said Hugh Anderson, Director of haa design. “The culture of Cove Park is unique and the atmosphere that requires to be reflected within the Artists’ Centre will echo the open and collaborative way in which residents come together. As we see it, the style which has been set by the building itself, of openness and simplicity, requires to be enhanced at the same time as making the communal spaces comfortable and welcoming.”

From this summer, Cove Park will, for the first time, be able to operate throughout the year, fostering creative exchange between artists, its local community, staff, board and visitors. It will provide larger and fit for purpose facilities enabling Cove Park to deliver an expanded artistic programme of free on-site community and education activities called ‘Hands-On Cove Park’.

Chair of Cove Park’s Board, Dame Seona Reid said, “The in-kind support from haa design and match-funding from Arts and Business Scotland is a welcome boost for our plans to create a very special Artist Centre at Cove Park. It will ensure that high quality equipment and furniture matches the elegant architecture of our new Centre and provides ever more of a draw to those who seek space, time and the stimulation of good company in a beautiful setting.”

The New Arts Sponsorship Grant scheme encourages private sector sponsorship of cultural activity in Scotland. Funded by the Scottish Government via Creative Scotland and administered by Arts & Business Scotland it offers £1 for £1 match funding to cultural organisations, which have secured sponsorship from an eligible business.

Arts & Business Scotland Chief Executive David Watt said: “Cove Park’s brand new Artist Centre is a fantastic facility which will bring huge benefits to artists, the community and the wider public. We’re delighted to be able to support its development through the New Arts Sponsorship Grants programme and look forward to seeing the project come to fruition.”